U.S.
Department of State Human Rights Report 1998
The Constitution states that, "The religion of Brunei Darussalam
shall be the Muslim religion according to the Shafeite sect of that
religion: Provided that all other religions may be practiced in peace
and harmony by the person professing them in any part of Brunei Darussalam."
The Government sporadically voiced alarm about "outsiders"
preaching radical Islamic fundamentalist or unorthodox beliefs. Citizens
deemed to have been influenced by such preaching (usually students
returning from overseas study) have been "shown the error of
their ways" in study seminars organized by mainstream Islamic
religious leaders. The Government seems more concerned about these
so-called Islamic "opportunists" than unwelcome political
views. Moreover, the Government does not hesitate to investigate and
to use its internal security apparatus against these purveyors of
radical Islam.
In 1991 the Government began to reinforce the legitimacy of the hereditary
monarchy and the observance of traditional and Muslim values by reasserting
a national ideology known as the Malayhu Islam Beraja (MIB) or "Malay
Muslim monarchy," the genesis of which reportedly dates back
to the 15th century. The Government in 1993 participated in issuing
the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, which affirms the right of all persons
to a wide range of human rights, including freedom of religion. Despite
this and constitutional provisions providing for the full and unconstrained
exercise of religious freedom, the Government routinely restricts
the practice of non-Muslim religions by: Prohibiting proselytizing;
occasionally denying entry to foreign clergy or particular priests,
bishops, or ministers; banning the importation of religious teaching
materials or scriptures such as the Bible; and refusing permission
to expand, repair, or build new churches, temples, and shrines. However,
in February the Government allowed the Catholic Church to establish
the first apostolic prefecture in the country and to install Monsignor
Cornelius Sim, a Bruneian of Chinese origin, as the country's first
apostolic prefect.
In September officials of the Islamic Propagation Center confiscated
gold and other precious Buddhist and Christian icons from a number
of goldsmiths in the capital, stating that the open display of these
items "offended local sensitivities." The confiscations
were made under the Undesirable Publications Act, which gives the
Government wide-ranging powers. Several days later, the goldsmiths
were informed that they could recover their property from the Ministry
of Home Affairs.
In July the authorities began to raid clubs frequented by foreign
residents and foreign workers, in order to confiscate alcohol and
foodstuffs that were not prepared in accordance with "halal"
requirements (the Islamic requirements covering the slaughter of animals
and the prohibition on inclusion of pork products in any food).
The Ministry of Education has also restricted the teaching of the
history of religion or other courses on religion in non-Islamic schools
while requiring courses on Islam or the MIB in all schools. Only the
Bandar Seri Begawan and Jerudong International Schools are exempted
from these restrictions.
Source: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
for 1998, U.S. Department of State.
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